Armed Forces: A400M

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the reply by Lord Davies of Oldham on 12 March (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 1262), whether the A400M CargoLifter will be delivered; and, if not, what alternatives there are.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: A contract for the development and production of the A400M aircraft was signed with Airbus Military on 27 May 2003 by the Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation (OCCAR) on behalf of participating nations (Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Turkey and the UK).
	The A400M is proving to be a challenging programme, and several delays and programme slips have been announced.
	EADS/Airbus Military have recently presented a proposal for taking the A400M programme forward and announced that they wish to discuss the delivery schedule and specific performance characteristics. The implication of this proposal on the delivery of A400M is being studied by the nations and OCCAR.

Armed Forces: Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government in the event of European nations withdrawing from the A400M programme, what alternatives to provide a similar capability would be considered.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Following the announcement of delays by Airbus Military on the A400M programme, we are considering our options with partner nations and the company.

Asylum Seekers: Zimbabwe

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers from Zimbabwe were successful in their application to stay in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2008.

Lord West of Spithead: Information on the number of asylum seekers, excluding dependants, from Zimbabwe who were recognised as a refugee and granted asylum or not recognised as a refugee but granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2007 is published annually in table 4.1 in the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin—Asylum Statistics United Kingdom.
	Statistics for 2008 are published in the table B of the supplementary web tables published with the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary—Fourth Quarter 2008. This table shows applications received for asylum in the UK (excluding dependants) and initial decisions broken down by country of nationality.
	2007 and 2008 figures are provisional and may be subject to change.
	These publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

Aviation: Slot Reservations

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider imposing a public service obligation under European Regulations 2408/92/EEC and 95/93/EEC in order to reserve slots used by bmi for services to Heathrow Airport from Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Lord Adonis: The criteria for imposing a public service obligation (PSO) were set out in Guidance on the Protection of Regional Air Access to London, published by the Department for Transport (DfT) in December 2005. It can be found on the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/domestic/praa/.
	It is for regional stakeholders to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for a PSO to be imposed. No such application has been received in relation to the Durham Tees Valley to Heathrow route.
	The EU rules governing the imposition of PSOs on air routes have been refined by Regulation EC 1008/2008. The department will be revisiting the 2005 guidance in the light of this, but we do not anticipate making large-scale changes.

Climate Change

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take in response to the recent remarks by President Klaus of the Czech Republic at a conference in New York, in which he sought to refute climate change concerns.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The UK Government continue to work closely with the Czech EU presidency, which recognises the importance of tackling climate change. Its published presidency priorities states "the presidency will strive to prepare a path for reaching a broad international consensus on how to face climate change, which should be reached at the end of 2009 in Copenhagen".

Climate Change: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to research into technologies that might reduce the time carbon dioxide emissions remain in the earth's atmosphere.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: At present, the Government consider technologies that aim to reduce the time that carbon dioxide emissions remain in the earth's atmosphere to be speculative and unproven. However, the Government are keeping them under review, as they might ultimately have a role to play in helping to ameliorate climate change, particularly if emissions reductions are not achieved quickly enough or climate change turns out to be worse than projected.
	The Government have no present plans for funding any significant research on these technologies. However, we welcome the Royal Society's current study on geo-engineering, which will help to indicate which, if any, of these options might be viable and suitable for further research.
	The Natural Environment Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council support research relevant to better understanding such geo-engineering options, their viability and potential environmental consequences. Research Councils are funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, but under the Haldane principle (the idea that decisions about what to spend research funds on should be made by researchers rather than politicians) researchers set their own detailed research priorities.
	We assume that technologies that might reduce the time that carbon dioxide emissions remain in the earth's atmosphere do not include carbon capture and storage technologies, which aim to prevent carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere from point emission sources.

Conflict Prevention and Human Security

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal by the East-West Institute for the establishment of a Network For Parliamentarians for Conflict Prevention and Human Security.

Lord Tunnicliffe: The Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security was launched at the European Parliament in Brussels in October 2008, as an initiative of the EastWest Institute's International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy.
	The Department for International Development's (DfID) assessment is that the network will be valuable in helping to build understanding and consensus at the national and international level on approaches to conflict prevention and early response. In its policy paper Preventing Violent Conflict (2007) DfID states its commitment to building local, national and international capacity to manage conflict. The network can contribute to this—by raising awareness of the importance of preventing violent conflict and promoting diplomatic initiatives. It will be important that the network develops strong links with the UN, EU and regional organisations to unify conflict prevention efforts.

Data Protection

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what penalties exist for commercial violation of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003; and whether they consider these sanctions to be an effective deterrent.

Lord Bach: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of both the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR).
	The Government consider that the powers and sanctions available to the ICO are an effective deterrent to non-compliance with the DPA and PECR. However, the ICO's powers are kept under constant review and the Government have proposed to enhance these powers in the Coroners and Justice Bill to provide a further deterrent to non-compliance.
	The ICO currently has powers to:
	prosecute a data controller who is illegally processing data without the correct notification;issue an information notice where it reasonably requires any information for the purpose of determining compliance with the DPA;issue an enforcement notice where it is satisfied that a data controller has contravened or is contravening the DPA, requiring the data controller to comply with the legislation;enter and inspect a premises with a warrant where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting contravention of the DPA, or where an offence has been committed; anduse powers to ensure organisations comply with the requirements of PECR, including an enforcement order outlined in the Enterprise Act 2002.
	Non-compliance with an information notice, an enforcement notice or a Schedule 9 warrant is a criminal offence. The penalty is the statutory maximum on summary conviction and an unlimited fine on indictment.
	In addition to these existing powers and sanctions, the Government have also proposed the following measures in the Coroners and Justice Bill:
	assessment notices, which can be served on public authorities, requiring an assessment of compliance with the DPA by the ICO by entering the public authority's premises without prior consent;amendments to the information notice, allowing the ICO to specify the manner and form in which requested information is to be supplied; andamendments to the Schedule 9 warrant, to require any person to provide information for determination of compliance with the DPA.

Department for International Development: DEL

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 9 March (WA 200), why £5,000 has been transferred to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; and how this contributes to the relief of poverty in developing countries.

Lord Tunnicliffe: The ability of the Department for International Development (DfID) to relieve poverty in developing countries depends critically on the skills of its staff. Whilst some of these skills are specific to international development, others—such as leadership, project management and people management—apply across the Civil Service. The Skills Strategy for Government, launched in 2008, recognised that departments could achieve more by working together on these common issues. This will involve building stronger professions within government, helping departments to work together to procure and commission training, and influencing universities and colleges to train the present and potential future workforce more closely in line with Government's needs. In line with every other department, DfID has therefore agreed to contribute about £3 for each member of its staff to the costs of delivering the strategy, which is managed by Government Skills (the Sector Skills Council for central government, and part of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills). As well as leading to more effective delivery of programmes such as international development, the skills strategy will drive savings for departments which significantly exceed their contributions to its funding.

Development Aid

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of development aid is devoted to preventing violent conflicts, and providing timely early warning.

Lord Tunnicliffe: Much of the work the Department for International Development (DfID) undertakes in fragile states on addressing the millennium development goals—for example, improving governance and accountability, reducing inequality, or improving access to basic services for all—contributes towards conflict prevention. DfID has increased its expenditure in fragile states from 26 per cent of its overall bilateral spend in 2001 to around 40 per cent in 2007. Based on current plans this proportion is due to rise to approximately 60 per cent by 2011.
	Work on early warning is not funded under a central or distinct programme. It is carried out by DfID staff spread across a number of departments and country offices and draws on a range of assessments, including those of other government departments as well as publicly available material. It is not therefore possible to give a figure for DfID expenditure in this area.

Elections: Postal Voting

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what instructions and advice are being given to (a) the police, and (b) returning officers, to prevent postal voting fraud taking place in the European and local elections on 4 June.

Lord Bach: The Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Electoral Commission have produced updated guidance for police forces in England, Wales and in Scotland for the European and local elections taking place on the 4 June 2009. The guidance is designed to alert police forces to issues that may arise in the run-up to polling day, on polling day itself and at related events, and provides an explanation of potential offences, powers of arrest, maximum penalties and time limits for prosecution, and guidance on partnership working.
	The commission is also responsible for the provision of guidance to returning officers in relation to the management and conduct of elections. They continue to issue detailed written guidance and work with returning officers, electoral registration officers, political parties, the Crown Prosecution Service and the police on strategies for preventing and detecting electoral malpractice.
	The commission has:
	produced guidance for electoral administrators which provides specific advice on the handling of postal votes and the techniques which can be used to prevent and detect electoral malpractice at the European parliamentary elections;arranged seminars for electoral administrators, the police and political parties to discuss electoral integrity matters; andworked with political parties to produce a voluntary code of conduct for postal voting.
	The Government fully support this work and would encourage local police forces and returning officers to be vigilant in monitoring any suspicious or fraudulent activity at the June elections.

Gaza

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Government of Israel to lift the embargo on construction materials and other goods entering Gaza to enable the rebuilding of houses and services.

Lord Tunnicliffe: Access for much-needed materials will be critical for early recovery and reconstruction to take place in Gaza. Following the Secretary of State's visit to Gaza on 1 March, he met Isaac Herzog, the Israeli Minister responsible for co-ordinating aid to Gaza, and pressed for improved access and a relaxation of restrictions on the type of goods that are allowed across the border.
	The Foreign Secretary has also pressed Isaac Herzog on the need for improved access, and the Prime Minister recently wrote to Prime Minister Olmert on this issue. In the last month officials from both the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have had meetings with the Israeli Government on the need for greater access.

Higher Education: Student Loans

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Norwood Green on 12 January (WA 103), whether it is necessary for all students attending English and Welsh universities to apply for a student loan even if they do not wish to have one in order to avoid being categorised as a foreign student.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: No. Government loans for tuition fees and living costs are not mandatory and eligible students may apply for tuition or maintenance loans as they wish. Student loans are affordable and designed to ensure that finance is not a barrier to higher education.
	Higher Education Institutions in England charge eligible students the regulated rate of fee whether they have applied for student support or not. Eligibility to the regulated fee charge is determined by the Student Fees (Qualifying Courses and Persons) (England) Regulations 2007 and subsequent amendments.
	I will pass your inquiry on to the Welsh Assembly Government who will respond to your inquiry in relation to Welsh higher education institutions in due course.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a local authority could reject a petition requiring an officer to be called to account, as proposed in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, if the petition related to the discharge of functions for which the officer was responsible but the operational decision for which was taken by central government.

Baroness Andrews: Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that certain local authority officers can be required to give evidence, where the grounds for the request relates to their job responsibilities. The scenario outlined by the noble Lord is unlikely to occur, as local government operational decisions are not taken by central government, but were such a petition to be put to a local authority it could not be rejected.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps a local authority is to take if a petition is received that calls for an officer to be held to account, as set out in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, where that officer is then in the employment of another local authority, government department or agency, or other public body; and whether that officer may be obliged to attend a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee by the authority or by their current employers.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an "officer to be called to account" in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill means the individual officer named in the petition, or whether it can be taken to mean another officer who has taken over the discharge of functions to which the petition refers and for which the original officer is no longer responsible.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under Clause 16(10)(b) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill "another officer" is in addition to or in place of the officer to be called to account; whether the petition organiser will be informed of any additional or replacement officer to be questioned; and what steps will be taken if the petition organiser objects to the change.

Baroness Andrews: Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that petitions may require relevant officers, whether identified by name or description, to give evidence to an overview and scrutiny committee. The overview and scrutiny committee could invite a former officer of the local authority to give evidence, but could not require them to do so under Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill. Alternatively, the overview and scrutiny committee could decide that for the purposes of addressing the concerns raised by the petition, it would be more appropriate for another officer to attend before it.
	Clause 13 provides that local authorities must acknowledge petitions, and that this acknowledgement must give such information about what the authority proposes to do in response to the petition as the authority considers appropriate. Local authorities may therefore use the acknowledgement to inform the petition organiser if the overview and scrutiny committee considers that for the purposes of addressing the concerns raised by the petition, it would be more appropriate for another officer to attend before it. If the petition organiser objects to the change in the officer who is required to attend the meeting, the organiser could ask the overview and scrutiny committee to review its decision.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will require or issue guidance to local authorities on (a) how much time an officer must be given between receiving a notification to appear before an overview and scrutiny committee as a result of a petition submitted in accordance with Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, and the date of the meeting; and (b) whether the officer may use the resources of the local authority in preparing material for use at such a meeting.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether local authorities will be required to pay to an officer any expenses or overtime incurred as a result of having to attend a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee following a petition submitted to the authority that calls for the officer to be called to account, as set out in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill.

Baroness Andrews: Relevant officers would be required to give evidence under Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill as part of their employment, and would not be appearing in a personal capacity. Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that the grounds for the request to give evidence must relate to the officer's job responsibilities. In preparing for giving evidence, officers would therefore use the resources of the local authority, and be eligible for overtime pay and expenses, as with the other tasks they carry out as part of their employment.
	As with existing arrangements for officers to give evidence to overview and scrutiny committees, the period of time between an officer being notified that they must appear before the committee, and the date of the meeting, will depend upon local authorities' internal management processes and the frequency of overview and scrutiny meetings.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether under Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill a local authority could reject a petition requiring an officer to be called to account on the ground that the officer had left the employment of the authority; whether a local authority will require an individual who was the officer named in such a petition but was no longer employed by them to return to appear before the overview and scrutiny committee; and, if not, what actions the local authority would be expected to take.

Baroness Andrews: Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill provides that petitions may require relevant officers, whether identified by name or description, to give evidence to an overview and scrutiny committee. The overview and scrutiny committee could invite a former officer of the local authority to give evidence, but could not require them to do so under Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill. Alternatively, the overview and scrutiny committee could decide that for the purposes of addressing the concerns raised by the petition, it would be more appropriate for another officer to attend before it.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (a) the Public and Commercial Services Union, (b) the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, and (c) UNISON about the impact on their members of Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have consulted officials who would be covered by Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill or their representatives; if so, whether any written responses were received; and, if so, whether they will place those responses in the Library of the House.

Baroness Andrews: The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out a public consultation on the proposals in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill. The Communities in control: Real people, real power: Improving local accountability—Consultation ran from 7 August until 30 October 2008. 199 responses were received, and the Department for Communities and Local Government will place copies of these responses in the Library of the House. The Department for Communities and Local Government published Communities in control: Real people, real power—Government response to the improving local accountability consultation on 26 January 2009.
	Department for Communities and Local Government officials met SOLACE and UNISON to discuss Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill in Autumn 2008, and have ongoing discussions on the policy with these two organisations. PCS does not represent local authority officers, so the Government did not contact PCS to discuss the proposals. However, it would have been open to PCS to respond to the public consultation on the policy, Communities in control: Real people, real power: Improving local accountability—Consultation.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to issue guidance to local authorities suggesting a limit on the number of petitions they should accept each year that call for a specific officer to be called to account, as set out in Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill.

Baroness Andrews: The Government have no current plans to issue guidance on this issue. Safeguards in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill ensure that officers can only be required to give evidence under Clause 16 when the request to do so relates to their job responsibilities, and is not vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the provisions of Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill would constitute a change in the employment contract of the relevant officials.

Baroness Andrews: The provisions in Clause 16 merely involve the overview and scrutiny committee exercising its existing powers at the request of members of the public, they should not require any changes in the employment contracts of the relevant officials.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the impact of Clause 16 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill; who will conduct such a review; and how often such a review will take place.

Baroness Andrews: The Government are committed to measuring the success of all new policies included in legislation. As such, the Department for Communities and Local Government will conduct a review of the impact of the petitions provisions in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill within three years of implementation.

National College of School Leadership

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many teachers employed by Manchester City Council have been allocated places at the National College of School Leadership.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: 1160 members of school staff from Manchester City Council have engaged with the college in leadership provision programmes. It should be noted however, that although the college requests information from participants about the role they have within their school, this is not always provided. Therefore, 239 individuals are within this number of whom the college cannot state with certainty that they fulfilled a teaching role. However, given the activities that they will have participated in, the probability that these were not teaching staff is small.

Nighthawking Survey

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for taking forward the recommendations of English Heritage's Nighthawking Survey.

Lord Davies of Oldham: English Heritage is preparing an implementation plan to take forward the recommendations of the Nighthawking Survey; English Heritage expects this to be ready before the summer.

Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

Lord Jenkin of Roding: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce a Legislative Reform Order into Parliament to give effect to Dr Timothy Stone's recommendations for the structural changes to the Nuclear Directorate; and whether the order will include the creation of an autonomous unit within the Health and Safety Executive to carry out the regulatory duties of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Following the recommendations of Dr Tim Stone's review, the Government are restructuring the Nuclear Directorate of HSE, of which the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is part, through legislation to create an autonomous body, within the auspices of the HSE. The Government expect this to be accomplished through a legislative reform order, which we hope to introduce this year.

Prisoners: Compensation

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government in calculating compensation for former United Kingdom prisoners, what consideration is allowed for the state funding of accommodation and food facilities for (a) those incorrectly imprisoned; and (b) those released early due to a lack of space.

Lord Bach: Each unlawful imprisonment claim is dealt with on its own merits taking into account appropriate case law. The award of any damages is not offset by the cost of accommodation and food provided during the period of unlawful imprisonment. No compensation is paid to prisoners who are released early on home detention curfew nor under the end of custody licence scheme.

Sudan

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are assisting, through government and non-government organisations, voter education of the population of southern Sudan.

Lord Tunnicliffe: Since December 2007, the UK has supported a £400,000 programme of civic education through the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, an international non-governmental organisation with extensive networks of local partners throughout Sudan. We have also provided £1.5 million to the UN to launch a programme of preparatory support to the elections process across Sudan. This will fund a range of activities related to voter education such as information campaigns, training of civil society organisations and electoral assistance staff, development of voter education materials, and the provision of small grants for local initiatives. Training of trainer events have already been held in five of the 10 southern states.

Unemployment

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how their green agenda will reduce unemployment, especially in the areas worst hit by the recession.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Stern review showed that without global action the economic impact of climate change will be equivalent to a loss in world GDP of 5 to 20 per cent per annum now and for ever. This is balanced against around 1 per cent to 2 per cent of GDP if we take action now, and this investment in low carbon technologies can underpin economic recovery.
	On 6 March, the Government held a summit at which we set out our vision of a low carbon economy and the areas in which we should focus our efforts to achieve it: energy efficiency, transforming our energy infrastructure, supporting the move to low carbon vehicles, and making the UK the best place for low carbon business. Following this summit, a full low carbon industrial strategy will be published in the summer. By continuing efforts to build a low carbon economy we will create the jobs and growth we need now. Turnover in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector as a whole could rise to over £150 billion and employment could rise by 400,000 people to 1.3 million by 2015.

Unemployment

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many jobs were lost in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in (1) each quarter of 2008, and (2) the first two months of 2009.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many job vacancies there are in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of those 18 and under are unemployed in (a) each English region, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, and (d) Northern Ireland.

Lord Patel of Bradford: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Roberts of Llandudno, dated March 2009.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many jobs were lost in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in (1) each quarter of 2008, and (2) the first two months of 2009; how many job vacancies there are in (a) each English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and what percentage of those 18 and under are unemployed in (a) each English region, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, and (d) Northern Ireland. (HL2171, HL2172 and HL2175)
	Data for employee jobs, total UK vacancies and unemployment estimates (tables provided overleaf) are based on surveys, as with all sample-based surveys, estimates are subject to sampling error.
	Table I shows the number of employee jobs in each English region, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 2007Q4 to 2008Q4 (seasonally adjusted), and the quarterly changes. This does not measure the number of jobs lost, but the net change between jobs created and jobs lost. The employee jobs series is a quarterly measure and so does not provide estimates for the first two months of 2009. The Office for National Statistics plans to release estimates for 2009Q1 on 17 June 2009.
	The Office for National Statistics estimates the number of vacancies from the Vacancy Survey, however estimates below UK are not available from this source.
	An alternative source of information on job vacancies is administrative data from Jobcentre Plus. This data only include job vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus and consequently are inconsistent with the UK estimates from the Vacancy Survey, however geographical breakdowns of this data are available. Data for Northern Ireland are not readily available.
	Table 2 attached, shows the number of live unfilled job vacancies held by Jobcentre Plus for each English region, Scotland and Wales for January 2009. The latest three-month average for the UK from the Vacancy Survey is 504,000.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment and unemployment statistics for parts of the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor, the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS), following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Table 3 gives estimates of those aged 16 to 18 who are unemployed as a percentage of all economically active persons aged 16 to 18, using the July 2007 to June 2008 APS dataset, which is the most recent for which figures are available.
	Seasonally adjusted estimates of national and regional unemployment levels and rates are published each month in the Labour Market Statistics First Release. Please visit the following link for further information: www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LMS_FR_HS/WebTablel8SA.xls
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of Seasonally Adjusted Employee Jobs (thousands) in English regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from 2007Q4 to 2008Q4, and the Change on Quarter 
			   Thousands 
			 Level North East North West Yorkshire & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands East 
			 Dec-07 1037 3020 2230 1891 2336 2365 
			 Mar-08 1036 3008 2226 1898 2350 2376 
			 Jun-08 1032 3007 2221 1900 2349 2382 
			 Sep-08 1030 2995 2205 1881 2328 2388 
			 Dec-08 1029 2969 2181 1866 2306 2365 
			 Level London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 
			 Dec-07 4080 3719 2222 1161 2391 843 
			 Mar-08 4093 3736 2220 1160 2392 843 
			 Jun-08 4099 3745 2223 1154 2396 851 
			 Sep-08 4084 3734 2232 1150 2389 842 
			 Dec-08 4040 3692 2206 1143 2375 837 
		
	
	
		
			 Level North East North West Yorkshire & Humberside East Midlands West Midlands East 
			 Change on quarter   
			 Mar-08 -1 -11 -4 7 15 11 
			 Jun-08 -4 -2 -5 2 -2 6 
			 Sep-08 -2 -11 -16 -19 -20 69 
			 Dec-08 0 -27 -24 -16 -22 -23 
			 Level London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 
			 Mar-08 13 18 -2 -1 1 0 
			 Jun-08 7 9 3 -6 4 8 
			 Sep-08 -16 -11 9 -4 -7 -9 
			 Dec-08 -44 -42 -26 -7 -14 -5 
		
	
	Source: Workforce Jobs, ONS
	Customer Helpline: 01633-456776
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of job vacancies1 notified to Job Centre Plus in English regions, Wales, Scotland, Great Britain and UK 
			  January 2009 
			  Not seasonally adjusted 
			 North East 6,563 
			 North West 19,018 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 12,184 
			 East Midlands 60,917 
			 West Midlands 13,642 
			 East 12,105 
			 London 14,622 
			 South East 19,305 
			 South West 13,959 
			 Wales 9,421 
			 Scotland 12,056 
			 Great Britain 193,792 
			 United Kingdom - 
		
	
	Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative data
	- Data not available
	(1)Job vacancies for English regions, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain are live unfilled vacancies from the Jobcentre Plus administrative data.
	
		
			 Table 3: Unemployment rate for people aged 18 and under1 in English regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland 
			  Per cent 
			 North East 28 
			 North West 21 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 26 
			 East Midlands 22 
			 West Midlands 26 
			 East 18 
			 London 34 
			 South East 19 
			 South West 16 
			 Wales 24 
			 Scotland 20 
			 Northern Ireland 10 
		
	
	Source: Annual Population Survey
	1 Aged 16-18 unemployed persons as a percentage of all economically active persons aged 16-18.

Universities: Admissions

Lord Smith of Leigh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the decision by Cambridge University to use A* grades for entrance to the university will affect students from state schools.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: The introduction of the new A* grade from 2010 alongside other changes to the syllabus and style and nature of questions in the A-level examination have raised concerns within the higher education (HE) sector about how well teachers will be able to predict which students will achieve the new grade, and particularly whether predictions will be reliable enough to be used in the HE applications and admissions process.
	The National Council for Educational Excellence, following consultation with the HE sector, recommended that the Government should look to establish base data on the predictability of the new A* grade prior to predicted A* grades being used in the higher education applications and offers processes. The Government support this recommendation and are exploring how to evaluate the accuracy of A* predictions against actual achievements to enable the sector to judge whether the evidence supports the use of A* predictions in the applications process. The award of an A* grade will recognise genuine higher level attainment. There is no evidence that this will disadvantage any particular group of students.
	Discussions with HE representative bodies suggest that the majority of institutions are indicating that they do not intend to use the A* grade in the applications and offers processes at this stage, although a small number will. It is of course a matter for universities themselves to set their entry criteria and to ensure that they are fair and transparent. All institutions will this summer submit detailed strategic assessments to the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Office for Fair Access bringing together for the first time in a single document their published admissions policies and activities to widen participation in higher education.